Coronavirus cases surge to 73 in India; Kerala remains the epidemic centre with 17 cases

• The WHO declared the deadly virus as pandemic after watching it spread quickly in more than 100 countries.
  
• A woman doctor from Canada has tested coronavirus positive in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow.
  
• Indian equity markets crashed during the morning trade, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

As the number of infected patients soared to 73 in India, the government put the country under lockdown and sealed all its borders for international arrivals.

The data available on world meters shows that India currently has 70 active cases of coronavirus after four people recovered from the deadly virus. However, over 6,000 people in the country are either being sent for testing or in quarantine.

WHO declared it a ‘pandemic’

The World Health Organization declared the deadly virus as pandemic as it spread quickly to more than 100 countries. The global death toll surged to over 4,000 and the number of infected stands at 126,380.

"Today's declaration of a pandemic is a call to action — for everyone, everywhere. It's also a call for responsibility and solidarity as nations united and as people united," Guterres said on Wednesday (March 11).

Canadian doctor tests positive in Lucknow

A doctor from Canada has tested coronavirus positive in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, taking the total of such cases in Uttar Pradesh to 10.

The patient, who tested positive late Wednesday night, has been admitted in an isolation ward in King George's Medical University (KGMU). According to KGMU Medicine Department, Prof Himanshu said that the woman is a doctor based in Toronto, Canada and travelled to Lucknow via London and Mumbai on March 8.

Sensex plunges by over 2,000 points

Investor wealth worth over ₹ 8 lakh crore was wiped off in early trade on Thursday as equity markets crashed as coronavirus takes on toll on businesses. Amid intensifying rout in global financial markets, the 30-share BSE index plummeted 1,864.02 points or 5.22% to 33,833.38.

The carnage on Dalal Street eroded investor wealth worth ₹8,56,689.62 crore, bringing down the total m-cap to ₹1,28,56,869.10 crore on the BSE at 10:30 am.

IPL 2020 to be postponed or held without audience

Rajesh Tope, the health minister of Maharashtra on Wednesday (March 11) said the Maharashtra government is discussing multiple options when it comes to hosting IPL matches. The state currently has four confirmed cases and as many as nine are quarantined.

“After discussion, we have come to two options: either to postpone matches or to have matches without selling tickets,” Tope told media.

Haryana declares coronavirus epidemic in the state

The Haryana government on Thursday declared a coronavirus epidemic in the northern state, which adjoins national capital Delhi.

Anil Vij, Haryana’s health minister, said that an appeal has also been issued to persons who have travelled abroad in the last 14 days to self-isolate for at least two weeks. He also added that a campaign has been launched across the state to identify such persons across educational institutions, nursing homes and hospitals in Haryana.

(With inputs from IANS)


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